Fukushima wastewater release: M’sia to screen food from Japan like it did in 2011

PETALING JAYA: The government is addressing the possible radiation risk on food imported from Japan similarly to what was done in 2011, says Health Ministry special advisor Dr Kelvin Yii.

He reassured the public that the ministry and relevant ministries, including Agriculture and Food Security, were taking stringent measures to ensure safety of food from Japan due to the ongoing release of Fukushima nuclear wastewater.

“Food safety is not something that will be compromised and through the Health Ministry, ‘high-risk’ food imports from Japan will be subject to Level 4 (surveillance) examination to screen for radioactive elements as the island nation moves to release water from its troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

“This is something that the ministry, through its Food Safety and Quality Division, has done in the event of possible risk including monitoring Japanese food imports from May 2011 to April 2012 following the earthquake that led to a triple meltdown at the power plant,” he said in a statement on Thursday (Aug 24).

Yii also said that food samples would be collected and analysed to ensure adherence to the regulatory limits under Regulation 37 of the Food Regulations 1985.

“I understand some of the anxieties and even concerns raised by the public even to me and that is why to address this concern, the ministry is committed to constantly monitoring national entry points and local markets to ensure food safety is guaranteed.

“While I respect the choice of the consumer on whether or not to be cautious with their purchase, the government is on high alert to ensure food supplied to Malaysia is safe for consumption,” the Kuching MP added.

On Wednesday (Aug 23), the public was urged to remain calm over reports that Japan would begin releasing treated water from Fukushima into the ocean on Thursday.

Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Chan Foong Hin said there were currently no live marine fish imported from Japan, according to the Fisheries Department.

“For any non-live fishery products from Japan, the ministry is working closely with the Health Ministry and other relevant authorities such as Quarantine and Inspection Services Malaysia (Maqis) and the Malaysia Fisheries Development Authority to monitor food safety issues, including checks on health certifications and radiation during post import,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

In 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami that hit three reactors at the nuclear power plant, located about 220km north-east of Tokyo.

The nuclear plant disaster was second only to Ukraine’s Chernobyl incident in 1986.

On Tuesday (Aug 22), Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the country would start releasing more than one million metric tonnes of treated water from the wrecked nuclear power plant.

Japan has said that the release of treated water from the plant operated by the Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) is consistent with international safety standards.

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Fukushima, Kelvin Yii, Health Ministry, Radiation Risk, Food, Import, Japan, Nuclear wastewater